What does max notation mean in polynomial degree calculations?

[DeldotB]

Hello all,

I have a very quick quesion:
(This is not a HW question, its simply a notation question)

I need to show for $f,g \in K[x]$ (where K is a field and K[x] is the set of polynomials) that
$deg(fg)=deg(f)+deg(g)$ and $deg(f+g) \leq max\left \{ deg(f),deg(g) \right \}$

My question is: what does $max\left \{ deg(f),deg(g) \right \}$ mean? I know what deg(f) means, I am wondering about the bracket notation i.e what does $max\left \{ a,b \right \}$ mean?

Thanks!

 

[SteamKing]

Hello all,

I have a very quick quesion:
(This is not a HW question, its simply a notation question)

I need to show for $f,g \in K[x]$ (where K is a field and K[x] is the set of polynomials) that
$deg(fg)=deg(f)+deg(g)$ and $deg(f+g) \leq max\left \{ deg(f),deg(g) \right \}$

My question is: what does $max\left \{ deg(f),deg(g) \right \}$ mean? I know what deg(f) means, I am wondering about the bracket notation i.e what does $max\left \{ a,b \right \}$ mean?

Thanks!

It means to select the item within the braces which has the maximum value.

 

[DeldotB]

Thanks